16. Dr. Russell Thomasasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider revising the regulation requiring the surrender of coupons for household necessities?
§ Mr. DaltonNo, Sir. As I have recently informed the House, in view of the shortage of towels, I have increased substantially the allocation of cotton yarn for their manufacture, but this has necessarily been at the expense of other cotton goods. In order to ensure that the limited supplies of towels and teacloths available are fairly distributed, rationing is essential; but other household necessities are not rationed.
Dr. ThomasWill the right hon. Gentleman not forget that stockings take two coupons and frequently are destroyed in one day; and in view of this and the shortage of coupons will he not consider helping the housewife still further in regard to these household necessities?
§ Mr. DaltonThis Question referred to household goods, and I thought that my hon. Friend was referring to towels.